A cracked heat exchanger in a furnace is a serious issue that can pose several dangers. The heat exchanger is responsible for transferring heat from the combustion chamber to the air that is blown through your home, and when it’s cracked, it can allow toxic gases like carbon monoxide to escape into your living space. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless, and can be deadly if inhaled in high concentrations.
In addition to the health risks, a cracked heat exchanger can also cause your furnace to operate inefficiently, resulting in higher energy bills and a shorter lifespan for your furnace. The crack can also cause the furnace to shut down unexpectedly, leaving you without heat on a cold day.
To prevent the danger of a cracked heat exchanger, it’s important to have your furnace inspected and maintained by a qualified HVAC technician regularly. This will help identify any issues with your furnace before they become major problems. Additionally, installing carbon monoxide detectors in your home is a simple but effective way to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning. If your furnace is over 15 years old or has a history of problems, it may be time to consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient model that is less likely to develop a cracked heat exchanger.
In this week’s episode of You Got This!, our HVAC Director of Operations, DeeDee Vierra joins us to discuss the dangerous situation an ABT client was in, without even knowing it. You can listen to our show on KNCO on Fridays at 9am, or online at anytime. The shows are also available on YouTube, as well.